Comics drawn by Chi Ying

Chinese President Xi Jinping made an inspection tour in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from May 23 to 25.

During the trip, Chinese President Xi Jinping had inspected Heixiazi Island on the Sino-Russian border. He also visited Bacha Village of Bacha Hezhe Township in Tongjiang and met local people. The Hezhe is one of China's smallest ethnic groups with a population of only 5,000, mostly in Heilongjiang.Xi also visited a rice cultivation cooperative in Fuyuan city, to learn more about conditions of the land transfer and how to increase rice output via advanced cultivation techniques.

He held talks with the local community to promote agricultural supply-side reforms, and had confirmed Heilongjiang’s contributions to ensure national food security as a ballast stone for social stability.

Xi emphasized that food safety is an important foundation of national security, while China has over 1.3 billion people. History has proven that sufficient food can maintain stable development.

The Chinese must develop our food industry by self-reliance, instead of being controlled by others. China’s food industry should pursue agricultural modernization, exploring agricultural supply-side reforms, protecting farmland and making food production adjustments. Beijing has pledged to offer subsidies to guarantee farmers’ benefits, and to reduce excessive crops inventory. Keeping food security in mind would provide a powerful force for national development.

The author is associate Professor, department of politics, China National School of Administration.